Method for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor and floor joists and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor material and to floor joists is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a first portion having an adhesive receiving surface adapted to adhesively receive said film; and a second adhesive portion secured to said first portion and adapted for adhesion to said subfloor material and to said floor joists. A method for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor material and to floor joists is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing apparatus including: a first portion having an adhesive receiving surface adapted to adhesively receive said film; a second adhesive portion adapted for adhesion to said subfloor material and to said floor joists; adhesively securing the second portion to the subfloor material and the floor joists; and securing said vapor barrier film to said first portion.

This is a U.S. patent application of U.S. Provisional Application60/947,725, filed Jul. 3, 2007 for a Method for Securing Vapor BarrierFilm to Subfloor and Floor Joists and Apparatus Therefor, which ishereby fully incorporated by reference

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of insulation systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In home construction, it is commonplace to utilize batts of fiberglassor the like for insulation. When insulating basement walls, battinsulation is normally run up the wall to the undersurface of thesubfloor, between the joists, and then sheathed with vapor barrier film,so that warm, moist interior air does not infiltrate the batt duringwinter months and condense, which could lead to mold. Securing thebarrier film in a relatively hermetic manner is complicated by thegenerally sawtooth-shaped interface between the barrier film, theundersurface of the subfloor and the floor joists and quite often,neatness and seal integrity gives way to expediency, with the filmmerely being cut roughly to shape, stapled in place and sealed with anabundance of tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor material and tofloor joists forms one aspect of the invention. The apparatus comprises:a first portion having an adhesive receiving surface adapted toadhesively sealingly receive said film; and a second adhesive portionsecured to said first portion and adapted for adhesion to said subfloormaterial and to said floor joists.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second adhesiveportion can be a strip portion and be adapted for sealing adhesion tosaid subfloor material and to said floor by way of an adhesive grippingsurface, and the first portion can be a strip.

According to another aspect of the invention, the receiving surface andthe gripping surface can each be in contact with a respective sheet ofrelease liner which is removed prior to use.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cross-section of theapparatus can be L-shaped.

According to another aspect of the invention, the adhesive receivingsurface can be on the first strip portion inside of the contained angle,and the adhesive gripping surface can be on the second strip portionoutside of the contained angle.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first strip portioncan include a plastic substrate and an adhesive coating defining theadhesive receiving surface; and the second strip portion can include aplastic substrate and an adhesive coating defining the adhesive grippingsurface.

A method for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor material and tofloor joists forms another aspect of the invention.

In the method: the apparatus is provided; the second strip portion isadhesively secured to the subfloor material and the floor joints; andthe vapor barrier film is secured to said first strip portion.

The invention permits vapor barrier film to be relatively convenientlyand neatly secured to the undersurface of the subfloor and the floorjoists.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention,as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements ofthe structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly describedhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical basement, showing an interiorstud-framed wall supporting an array of floor joists, a subfloorsupported on the joists and batt insulation extending up the basementwall to the subfloor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of encircled area 2 of FIG. 1, showingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention with thesecond strip portion thereof secured to the undersurface of saidsubfloor and to said floor joists, at the sawtooth-shaped interfacedefined by the surface of the batt insulation, the undersurface of thesubfloor and the floor joists;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with the release film removed fromthe first strip portion of the apparatus to reveal the adhesivereceiving surface;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with vapor barrier film adhesivelysecured to the adhesive receiving surface of the first strip portion ofthe apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a photograph providing a better view of the interface of thebatt insulation, floor joists and subfloor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a photograph similar to FIG. 5, showing apparatus according tothe exemplary embodiment of the invention with the second strip portionthereof secured to the undersurface of said subfloor and to said floorjoists, at the sawtooth-shaped interface defined by the surface of thebatt insulation, the undersurface of the subfloor and the floor joists;and

FIG. 7 is a photograph similar to FIG. 6, with the release film removedfrom the first strip portion of the apparatus and vapor barrier filmadhesively secured to the first strip portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of apparatus constructed accorded to theexemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 8 from another angle, with therelease film on the second strip portion partially removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shownin FIGS. 8 and 9 and designated with general reference numeral 20.

The apparatus 20 will be seen to be L-shaped in cross-section (i.e.L-shaped when viewed along the longitudinal axis) and is comprised of afirst planar strip portion 22 orientated substantially normally to asecond planar strip portion 24.

Each of the first strip portion 22 and the second strip portion 24includes a plastic substrate 26, 28. The respective plastic substrates26, 28 are formed integrally, in an extrusion process. On each substrateis an adhesive coating 30, 32 which has been extruded thereon. Theadhesive coating 30 on the first strip portion 22 is inside of thecontained angle θ and defines an adhesive receiving surface 34 which isadapted to adhesively, sealingly receive vapor barrier film. Theadhesive coating 32 on the second strip portion 24 is outside of thecontained angle θ and defines an adhesive gripping surface 36 adaptedfor adhesion to subfloor material and floor joists.

On each of the receiving surface 34 and the gripping surface 36 is asheet of release liner 38, 40 which is rolled onto the adhesive coatingfollowing the extrusion steps.

The apparatus 20 is used in insulation applications.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical basement, showing an interiorwall framed with studs 42 supporting an array of floor joists 44, asubfloor 46 supported on the joists 44 and batt 48 insulation extendingup the basement wall to the subfloor 46. FIG. 5 is a photograph, showingthis structure and interface in more detail.

In use in a basement as shown in FIG. 1, the release liner 40 is firstremoved from the second strip portion 24, which is secured to thesubfloor material 46 and the floor joints 44 at the generallysawtooth-shaped (the saw having square teeth) interface defined by thesurface of the batt insulation 48, the undersurface of the subfloor 46and the floor joists 44, as shown in FIG. 2. The plastic substrates 26,28 of the apparatus is sufficiently pliable to enable the second stripportion 24 to follow the interface, and release cuts 50 are formed inthe first strip portion 22, by scissors or the like, at the inside andoutside corners, to enable the first strip portion 22 to similarlyfollow the interface. At the same time, the plastic substrates 26, 28are sufficiently rigid and rigidly connected to one another in theexemplary embodiment to reliably maintain the perpendicular relationshiptherebetween. FIG. 6 is a photograph showing the apparatus 20 so securedto the interface in greater detail.

Thereafter, the release liner 38 is removed from the first strip portion22, and the vapor barrier film 52, which has previously been providedwith relief cuts in the vicinity of the floor joists 44, is sealinglysecured to the first strip portion 22 via the adhesive receiving surface34.

To ensure a hermetic seal is created to seal the batt insulation 48against air infiltration from the basement interior, as shown in FIG. 7,bridges 100 of two-sided tape or the like can be applied at the exteriorcorners of the first strip portions, prior to application of the barrierfilm.

The rigidity of the connection between the substrates of the first andsecond strip portions is such that the first strip portion provides asturdy base upon which the barrier film is secured. This facilitates thesecurement process.

Whereas but a single exemplary embodiment of the apparatus is shown anddescribed, various changes can be made.

For example, whereas the substrates of the first strip and the secondstrip described are formed integrally, in an extrusion process to createan L-shaped cross-section, the substrates could readily be formedintegrally out of a single piece of planar material, and folded intoshape under pressure or heat.

Further, whereas the adhesive coatings are indicated to be extruded,same could be poured on, rolled-on, sprayed-on or applied in the form ofa two-sided tape.

As well, whereas the adhesive receiving surface on the first stripportion is inside of the contained angle, it could be formed on theoutside of the contained angle, in which event the position of theapparatus could be reversed during installation.

Moreover, whereas the first and second portions are each indicated to beplanar strips, this is not necessary, and other shapes could be providedtherefore with similar utility, provided that a substantially hermeticseal can still be maintained.

Further, whereas but a single embodiment of the method is described,variations thereon can be made. For example, whereas in the exemplaryembodiment, relief cuts are made in an elongate strip, to permit same tofollow the interface, smaller, discrete lengths of the apparatus couldbe provided and arranged to follow the interface.

As well, whereas bridge portions are described at the exterior corners,to provide a hermetic seal, it will be evident that even absent suchbridge portions, a relatively hermetic seal would be obtained if carewas taken in installation according to the exemplary method.

Further, in the context of the method which utilized discrete lengths ofthe apparatus, mitered corners or the like could be provided so as toensure that the film material had a surface to seal against as ittraversed the joists.

A further alternative would be to utilize an elongate strip providedwith relief cuts as described and shown, for example, in FIG. 6, butapply, after the film has been secured to the strip, a sealing tapealong the strip/film interface, to ensure an appropriate hermetic seal.

A yet further alternative would be to utilize a deformable strip, so asto enable the first portion to stretch around the exterior corners.

Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is limited onlyby the claims appended hereto, purposively construed.

1. Apparatus for securing vapor barrier film to subfloor material and tofloor joists, said apparatus comprising: a first portion having anadhesive receiving surface adapted to adhesively receive said film; anda second adhesive portion secured to said first portion and adapted foradhesion to said subfloor material and to said floor joists. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second adhesive portion is aplanar strip portion and is adapted for adhesion to said subfloormaterial and to said floor joists by way of a planar adhesive grippingsurface; and the first portion is a planar strip and the adhesivereceiving surface is planar.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe adhesive receiving surface is adapted to adhesively, sealinglyreceive said film, and the adhesive gripping surface is adapted forsealing adhesion to said subfloor material and to said floor joists. 4.Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiving surface and thegripping surface are each in contact with a sheet of release liner whichis removed prior to use.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecross-section of the apparatus is L-shaped.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the adhesive receiving surface is on the first stripportion inside of the contained angle, and the adhesive gripping surfaceis on the second strip portion outside of the contained angle. 7.Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first strip portion includesa plastic substrate and an adhesive coating defining the adhesivereceiving surface; and the second strip portion includes a plasticsubstrate and an adhesive coating defining the adhesive grippingsurface.
 8. A method for securing vapor barrier film to subfloormaterial and to floor joists, the method comprising the steps of:providing apparatus including: a first portion having an adhesivereceiving surface adapted to adhesively receive said film; a secondadhesive portion adapted for adhesion to said subfloor material and tosaid floor joists; adhesively securing the second portion to thesubfloor material and the floor joists; and securing said vapor barrierfilm to said first portion.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein,in the apparatus, the first portion is a planar strip portion, theadhesive receiving surface is planar, the second adhesive portion is aplanar strip portion and is adapted for adhesion to said subfloormaterial and to said floor by way of a planar adhesive gripping surface;and the receiving surface and the gripping surface are each in contactwith a sheet of release liner prior to use, and further comprising thesteps of; removing the release liner from the second strip portionbefore adhesively securing the second strip portion to the subfloormaterial and the floor joists; and removing the release liner from thefirst strip portion prior to securing the barrier film to the firststrip portion.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein thecross-section of the apparatus is L-shaped.
 11. A method according toclaim 10, wherein the first strip portion includes a plastic substrateand an adhesive coating defining the adhesive receiving surface; and thesecond strip portion includes a plastic substrate and an adhesivecoating defining the adhesive gripping surface.
 12. A method accordingto claim 10, wherein the adhesive receiving surface is on the firststrip portion inside of the contained angle, and the adhesive grippingsurface is on the second strip portion outside of the contained angle.